Salvation Army Responds to Claim 'They Want Gays Dead'

Controversy over an article published in June is brought back to life today after a push by social media.

An article published back in June has the Salvation Army back in controversy, thanks to a recent push by social media.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding of misinformation,” Major Tim Grider with the Lubbock chapter of the Salvation Army said.

The headline said ‘Gays Need to be Put to Death.’

But Grider said that is not what the organization meant.

The official statement reads in part:

"The salvation army does not consider same sex orientation blameworthy in itself. Homosexual conduct, like heterosexual conduct, requires individual responsibility and must be guided by the light of scriptural teachings.”

“We do not discriminate,” Grider said. “We can not because as we are the Salvation Army. The god that we believe in commands us to love everyone and so we do.”

In fact, he said many members of his congregation are in the homosexual community; and just because the statement reflects the beliefs of the Salvation Army- it does not reflect their actions.

“Not only have we employed, not only have we assisted but we have had volunteerism,” Grider said. “That’s what we were called to do and that is what we will continue to do.”

Major Grider now worries about what this will do to the upcoming holiday season.

There are rumors of a boycott but he said by doing that, ‘You won’t hurt the Salvation Army, you’ll hurt the people they help.’

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